Clinton Valley Kiwanis fundraiser to benefit homeless kids

Photo by DEBRA KASZUBSKI
Anita Frederick of the Clinton Valley Kiwanis Club and Kathy Kropf, Homeless Education liaison for the MISD, display a check for $15,226, the profits from last year’s fundraiser. Kiwanis hopes to raise as much money for the homeless Oct. 10 during its “A Tuscan Evening” event at Zuccaro’s Banquet and Catering Hall in Chesterfield Township.

The Macomb Intermediate School District estimates approximately 1,035 children in Macomb County are homeless, residing in hotels, shelters or bouncing from relative to relative.

The Clinton Valley Kiwanis Club wants to do its part to provide a stable life for youngsters who have been displaced due to economic or other reasons. That’s the driving force behind the club’s Oct. 10 fundraiser titled “A Tuscan Evening” at Zuccaro’s Banquet and Catering Hall in Chesterfield Township.

There will be two vintners offering more than 50 different wines for tasting, and wine may be purchased for drinking with the buffet dinner. There also will be a disc jockey providing music, a silent auction featuring a variety of items, including a giant character from the movie “Turbo,” and raffles for items such as a flat-screen television and lottery ticket trees.

Advertisement

Tickets are $35 with discounts offered for a table of 10. Proceeds will be donated to the MISD to provide food, clothing, personal hygiene items and more for homeless children.

This is the seventh year the Clinton Valley Kiwanis has sponsored this event, which raised $15,000 for homeless youth last year, according to club spokeswoman Doreen Winnega.

“Most people who hear about youngsters trying to learn while displaced from their home for a variety of reasons want to do what they can. We realize the economy is a huge factor. Eighty percent of families in this predicament have not experienced this before,” Winnega said. “Other children are escaping an abusive home or one with drugs. Teens sometimes go from friend to friend. Other youngsters are taken in by relatives and may have to move around a bit. Their things might get lost in this process.”

Profits from the event will be donated to MISD’s Homeless Education Project, which works closely with local schools to assist homeless students in meeting their basic needs, helps provide school stability, and connects families to needed and often unknown community resources.

“This is the biggest fundraising event our program has for the school year. We’re able to help our homeless students with these ‘extra’ things for school based on the generosity of the community,” said Kathy Kropf, Homeless Education liaison with the MISD. “All donations go 100 percent back to our homeless students in Macomb County. The proceeds from this event are used to provide one $50 Meijer gift card per student to help with clothes or shoes.”

“A Tuscan Evening” will run 6-9 p.m. Oct. 10. For tickets or more information, call Anna Gloria at 586-286-3983 or Anita Frederick at 586-246-6289.